Mortar & Pestel

The new construction 2,200 s.f. new concept restaurant was recently completed within the growing Seminole Heights commercial corridor that features boutique style eateryโ€™s that have a unique commonality to the area while serving entirely different food trends.ย 

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ย This project anchors the corner of Florida Avenue and Fern Street by establishing an interesting presence that invites passer byes and walk-up traffic to experience the unique custom coffee blends as well as serving a specialized menu with full liquor bar.ย 

The restaurant also features a lift system to a private balcony area that overlooks Florida Avenue. The adjacent bungalow was renovated to contain a pharmacy that was developed alongside the restaurant that reinforces the naming of this project, Mortar & Pestle Cafรฉ + Bar and Pharmacy.

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Professional Affiliations and Credentials

  • American Institute of Architects, Tampa Bay Chapter State Director
  • Hillsborough County Affordable Housing Advisory Board, Member
  • Friends of Tampa Union Station, Board Member
  • ACE Mentor Program, Mentor Team Leader

Education

  • Certificate in Community Real Estate Development, University of South Florida, Tampa
  • Masters of Architecture, University of South Florida, Tampa
  • Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering, Tennessee State University, Nashville

Certifications

  • OSD, State of Florida Minority, Women & Service Disabled Veteran Business Certification
  • Aviation Authority, Florida Unified Certification Program, DBE for all USDOT federal aid projects
  • U.S. Small Business Administration 8(a) Certified Business

Architect Registrations

  • Florida, ย 
  • New York
  • Illinois
  • Georgia
  • Michigan

Valeria Cristancho

Intern

A native of Venezuela, Valeria completed her high school diploma at Coral Springs, Florida, She has also completed an Associates in Arts Degree at St. Petersburg College. Currently, she is enrolled at USF School of Architecture and Community Design to pursue a Masters in Architecture. As an Intern, she has excelled and shown promise in becoming a well-rounded Architect and is an integral member of our team.

Eduardo Olarte

Project Manager

Mr. Olarte is a native of Colombia and has over 16 years of experience in interior design, architecture, light design, project management and client relations in his home country and the United States. He exhibits a strong ability to create unique and innovative spaces while looking to understand specific client needs. He is also highly skilled in many drafting and rendering software including motion graphics. Photography is another passion and ability to his skill set.

Eric Del Monte

Project Manager

Eric is a native of Miami, Florida and is a graduate of Miami Dade College and the University of South Florida with a Masters in Architecture. He contributes his knowledge in Revit, CADD, Lumion, Twin Motion and other 3D modeling software. Fluent in Spanish and English to provide services to a greater public to meet outreach goals to our community.

Terry Miller

Construction Administrator

Mr. Terry T. Miller brings over 34 years in architecture and construction, that ranged from project designer to project architect within architectural firms in the Tampa Bay area. His work experience includes all phases, from project inception through project completion and close-out. His extensive previous experience in the construction industry has proven to be invaluable in understanding the architectural and construction process in delivering the built environment.

Terryโ€™s main area of responsibility within the firm is in management/oversight which includes: Coordination and directing practice efforts in design, technical specifications and construction administration. He provides his extensive experience and skill set in the solution and problem solving skills of what it takes to deliver the built environment in an efficient, value-added, and pragmatic manner.

Manuel Alvarino

Project Manager II

Mr. Manuel is a native of Cuba and has lived in the United States for over 10 years. He has worked as an intern while in Cuba before coming to the U.S. to further his education. Currently, he is enrolled in Architectural Studies at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Manuel has an extensive range of experience in commercial renovation and residential. He has a multitude of experience in computer rendering and modeling with an advanced knowledge of multiple graphic software platforms. His abilities has added an extra dimension to our office environment.

Safoura Kazemilari

Project Manager I

Safoura has ten years of experience working for the City of Shiraz, Iran as the Urban Beautification Department Head. While at this position she lead multi-disciplinary professionals to produce federally funded projects throughout the City. Once is the United States, she carried her knowledge to various firms providing public/ private design and coordination services. We are excited to have her unquie skill set contribute to our expanding client base.

Ada Padilla

Office Administrator

Ada has over 30 yearsโ€™ experience in office management/ administration and human resources and has a degree in accounting. Her responsibilities have covered areas of business operations regarding payroll, bookkeeping, account reconciliation, customer services and vendor relations.

She has worked for various companies in the design and construction fields which has proven to be a valuable skill set when working with industry professionals. Her management of staff and involvement in day-to-day tasks improve our proficiency and response to better serve our clients and consultants.

Adaโ€™s expanded responsibilities covers contract agreements, business development and outreach in the community to promote the firmโ€™s vision and mission statement to enhance our impact into the greater Tampa Bay area and beyond.

Jerel McCants AIA, LEED Green Assoc.

Principal-In-Charge

Mr. Jerel McCants established Jerel McCants Architecture, Inc. in 2009. Mr. McCants has experience in many building types including Municipal, Educational, High-rise condominiums, Cultural and Residential.

Mr. McCants mission is to contribute to innovative architectural design and construction methods to residential and commercial markets as a Managing Principal based on his ability to direct staff members and communicate effectively with clients and contractors.

Mr. McCants believes that design is an action that is expressed: an act of many different disciplines uniting in a common cause which he terms โ€œResponsive Architectureโ€. His mix of small, medium and large (S,M,L) projects has allowed him to maintain a steady firm standing and consistent viability in the global marketplace.